Learning Skills
How Do I Reference My Paper?
Many students express how they feel frustrated and constrained in their writing efforts because of the need to include references within their academic paper. Correct referencing, however, is an important part of academic writing.
The academic world is all about knowledge building and the primary reason for citation, therefore, is that it encourages and supports the collective construction of academic knowledge (Walker & Taylor, 2006, pp. 29-30). Referencing also forms an essential part in avoiding any tendency towards plagiarism.
Referencing styles at CSU
The important thing is to use the style of referencing required by your School or Faculty and to use it consistently. It is also good practice to check your Subject Outline or with the subject lecturer to verify the referencing style required in each subject.
1. APA (American Psychological Association)
- APA Referencing Summary - a CSU guide to referencing based on the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.).
- Chapter 4 of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association - an electronic version is available in the CSU Library Electronic Reserve collection. To access this chapter, click the link under Location and then the link to Electronic Version.
- APA style guide to electronic references - a recently released and essential supplement to the APA Publications Manual
- APA resources - available at CSU Library Services
- Perrin's Pocket Guide to APA Style (2nd ed.). This publication is available from the Co-op Bookshop.
- APA Style.org website resources
2. Chicago
3. MLA (Modern Language Association)
Referencing software
- Endnote - EndNote is bibliographic management software that helps manage references and produce reference lists in a variety of standard referencing styles (eg. APA, Chicago, MLA ...).
Students are able to install EndNote on their own computer by borrowing the CSU installation CD-Rom from the Library. CSU Distance Education (DE) students may request a loan of the CD-Rom directly from the Library catalogue, or by downloading EndNote from the DIT core software page.
Students should refer to the Library website for full information and guidance on using EndNote.